In Indonesia, nearly 400 people have been killed in a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Palu city on Sulawesi island yesterday. The national disaster agency of the country said hospitals are struggling to cope with hundreds of injured and rescuers scrambling to reach the stricken region.

In the city of Palu partially covered bodies lay on the ground near the shore. There are also concerns over the whereabouts of hundreds of people preparing for a beach festival due to start yesterday evening.

The tsunami was triggered by a strong quake that brought down buildings and sent locals fleeing for higher ground. Reports say that the shallow 7.5 magnitude tremor was more powerful than a series of quakes that killed hundreds on the Indonesian island of Lombok in July and August.

Indonesian president Joko Widodo said military have been called in to the disaster-struck region to help search-and-rescue teams get to victims and find bodies.